Jerome Harper
Jerome Harper
Jerome Harper’s life is a testament to the transformative power of resilience. His personal mantra, “My adversities have not defined me, they have refined me,” encapsulates his journey of overcoming life’s most formidable challenges.
From a young age, Jerome faced the realities of Marfan syndrome, a condition that posed physical and emotional hurdles. By age 15, he underwent major scoliosis surgery, a daunting experience that could have easily derailed his spirit. However, Jerome’s resolve remained firm. The loss of sight in his right eye at age 16 was yet another setback, but Jerome refused to let these obstacles dictate the course of his life. However, perhaps his most harrowing experiences were the two emergency open-heart surgeries he endured by the age of 21.
Through the years, Jerome witnessed his mother and brothers, also grappling with Marfan syndrome, undergo numerous surgeries. Despite the hardships within his family, Jerome emerged from these trials with a steadfast determination to thrive. Marfan syndrome may have been a part of his reality, but it never defined his identity.
Academic setbacks could have been stumbling blocks, yet Jerome pressed forward. Graduating high school with less than a 2.0 GPA could have been seen as a limitation, but for Jerome, it was just another chapter in his journey of refinement. He pursued higher education with vigor, eventually earning an associate’s degree in business administration and later a bachelor’s degree in finance, becoming a trailblazer in his family as the first college graduate.
Jerome’s journey didn’t end with academic success. He found purpose in serving his community as the Chief Financial Officer of a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering low-income families.
In a tragic turn of events, Jerome also experienced the profound loss of both of his brothers due to complications from Marfan syndrome. Despite the weight of grief, Jerome’s spirit remained unbroken, fueling his determination to honor their memory through his resilience and achievements. In 2024, Jerome and his family were featured on the cover of the “Connective Issues” newsletter of the Marfan Foundation, just one of the many ways Jerome uses his testimony to inspire others and honor the lives of his brothers.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jerome is a devoted husband, father, author, and entrepreneur. His life’s mission is to inspire others to embrace their adversities as opportunities for growth and refinement. Through his extraordinary testimony and faith in God, Jerome exemplifies the power of resilience and the beauty of a life transformed by overcoming challenges.
